Toy wagon



Patented Feb. 2.5, 1941 Frank Voorheis,

Downers Grove, lll.

Application January 22, 1940, Serial No. 315,021

3 Claims.

My invention relates to toy wagons having a front cab and trailer andwith six wheels.

Amongthe objects of my invention is to provide toy wagons having aconstruction that will permit them to turn in the minimum of space andin which the trailer will follow exactly in line with the path of thecab, and such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will latermore fully appear and which are inherently possessed by my invention.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawl ing a preferred form of myinvention, yet I desire it understood that the same is susceptible ofmodification and change without departing from the spiritof myinvention.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side ele,`-v

vatlonal view of a toy wagon constructed in ac'- cordance with `myinvention; Fig. 2 isa plan` on which is built a cabin I3. Rotatablyattached to the under bottom portion I4 of the floor I2 by suitablemeans such as a bolt is a block I5, said block being spaced from thebottom portion I4 of the oor I2 by a washer I3.

Said block I5 has a flat top portion I1 resting against thebottom of thewasher IB. 'I'he block I3 also has a pair of oppositely sloping sideportions I8 and a central groove I9 to receive the axle frame 23 for thefront wheels 2|. The axle frame 23 is pivotally attached by a pin to theblock I5 and is adapted to pivot with a knee action so that the wheels2| may pass over minor obstructions in their path.

A housing 22 is attached to the rear of portion I4 and has therein anaxle 23 for the rotatable support of center wheels 24.

0n the upper face of floor I2 adjacent the rear is a guide 25 with aV-shaped cut out portion 23. To the rear of the guide 25 in the floor I2is a slightly forwardly inclined aperture 21 surrounded by a washer 23.

My trailer II has front walls 23 with angular portions 30, side walls3|, a rear wall 32 and a floor 33. 'Io the under portion 34 of the floor33 adjacent the front thereof a substantially triangular shaped member35 is pivotally attached by a pin or bolt 36. The bolt 36 issubstantially view on line 2--2 of Fig. 1, also showing by dot.- tedlines the operation of my invention; Fig. 3

(Cl. .4G- 201) midway between the side walls 3l. The apex 31 of thetriangular shaped member 35 is adapted to `slide within the V-shaped cutout portion 23 and be held therein by the walls of guide 25. The lowerend of the bolt 36 removably fits with- 5 in aperture 21.

A connecting shaft 33 has a curved front por- -tion 39 which ispivotally attached to the triangular member 33 by a pin 43. Thetriangular member has a slotted portion 4I which ex- 10 ltends from thebase 42 around to one of the side portions 43 short of the apex 31. Atthe rear of the under portion 34 is attached 4' a block 44 to which isattached an axle frame 45. Pivotally attached to said axle frame 45 onop- 15 posite ends are stub axles 43 and 41 connected by a cross member48. Rear wheels 43 rotate on said stub axles 43 and 41.

The connecting shaft `33 extends rearwardly from-the triangular member35 and its rear end 53 is pivotally attached to stub axle 41. 'I'heshaft 33 may have a cut out portion 5| to escape contact with one of therear wheels 43 when the same is in certain positions.

For best results my pin 43 attaches the front end 33 of connecting shaft33 to triangular member 35 at a point substantially one-third forwardlyfrom the base 42 of said triangular member 35. My pin is positionedlaterally from boit as the same distance that either king pin. 3

52 is laterally positioned'from the center tread of its adjacent rearwheel 49.

The stub axle 41 has a plurality of spaced openingsl 53 through whichpin 54 may be inserted vto attach the rear end 5I! of the connectingshaft 33.

In use when the front wheels of the cab are turned my construction actsto turn the rear wheels of the trailer so that the cab and trailer 4:0v

turn on a minimum of space.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A toy wagon construction comprising a cab, a trailer, said cab havingfront and back wheels, and at its rear portion a guide with a V shapedportion and an aperture, said trailer having at its front portion asubstantially triangular shaped member, a bolt for pivotally attachingsaid triangular member to the trailer, the apex of said triangularmember adapted to tit within said V shaped portion of the guide member,said bolt adapted to fit within said aperture to removably attach thetrailer to the cab, an axle frame attached adjacent the rear of saidtrailer, a stub axle construction pivotally attached by king pins 55 tosaid axle frame, rear wheels having a tread attached to said stub axleconstruction, said king pins positioned a desired distance laterallyfrom the tread of the adjacent tire. a connecting shaft connecting saidtriangular member and said stub axle construction, said connecting shafton one end pivotally attached to the triangular member the same distancelaterally of said bolt that either of said king pins is spaced from thetread of its adjacent tire, said connecting shaft on the other endpivotally attached to the stub axle construction on the same side, sothat when the front wheels of the cab are turned the triangular memberwill move the connecting shaft and cause it through the stub axleconstruction to turn the rear wheels of the trailer so that the wagonmay be turned in a minimum of` space.

2. A wagon construction comprising a cab and a trailer, said cabhaving-front and back wheels, said trailer having an axle frame, stubaxles pivotally attached by king pins to said axle frame and rearwheels, each of said king pins positioned a desired distance laterallyfrom the center tread of its adjacent wheel, means for removably andpivotally attaching the trailer to the cab, a triangular member attachedto the trailer by said means, said member contacting said cab andturnable upon the turning of said cab, a connecting shaft extending fromsaid triangular member to the axle, said shaft pivotally attached on oneend to the said triangular member the same distance laterally of thecenter of said member, that either of said king pins is spaced from thecenter tread of its adjacent tire and pivotally attached on the otherend to one of the stub axles a desired distance so that when the frontwheels of the cab Yare turned said triangular member will turn and causethe shaft to also turn the rear wheels of the trailer so that the wagonmay be turned in a minimum of space.

y aasams 3. A toy Wagon construction comprising a cab, a trailer, saidcab having front and back wheels, and at its rear portion a guide with aV shaped portion and an aperture, said trailer having at its frontportion a substantially triangular shaped member, a bolt pivotallyattaching said triangular member to the trailer, the apex of saidtriangular member adapted to fit within said V shaped portion of theguide member, said bolt adapted to t within said aperture to removablyattach the trailer to the cab, an axle frame attached adja-4 cent therear of said trailer, a stub axle construction pivotally attached byking pins to said axle frame, rear wheels having a tread attached tosaid axle construction, each of said king pins positioned a desireddistance laterally from the tread of their adjacent tires, a connectingshaft connecting said triangular member and said stub axle construction,said connecting shaft having a curved front portion, the front endofsaid connecting shaft pivotally attached to the triangular member thesame distance laterally of the bolt that either of said king pins'isspaced from the tread of its adjacent tire and the rear end of saidconnecting shaft pivotally attached to said stub axle construction sothat when the front wheels of the cab are turned the triangular memberwill movev the connecting shaft and cause it through the stub axleconstruction to turn the rear wheels of the trailer so that the wagonmay be turned in a minimum of space, said triangular member having acontinuous grooved portion extending inwardly from its base and one ofits sides to substantially its center to accommodate the curved portionvof the connecting member whenever the triangular member is turned toextreme positions.

FRANK F. VOORHEIS.

